Parliament sitting cancelled amid absence of PNC MPs

A scheduled sitting of the People's Majlis was cancelled on Wednesday after lawmakers from the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) failed to attend, resulting in a lack of quorum.

The sitting, scheduled to begin at 9:00am, was presided over by Deputy Speaker and Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim.

At the start of proceedings, Nazim announced that the required quorum had not been met.

“Due to the lack of quorum, and since the quorum bell failed to produce the necessary number of members, I intend to postpone the sitting until 10:00am,” Nazim said from the chair.

Although the exact number of members present was not disclosed, live broadcasts from the chamber showed no visible attendance from PNC lawmakers.

After a one-hour recess, another attempt was made to begin proceedings at 10:00am. However, quorum requirements were again not met.

“As the quorum has not been met despite rescheduling the start time to 10:00am, I hereby cancel today’s sitting under Article 49(b) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament,” Nazim announced.

Under Article 49 of the Standing Orders, a quorum requires the presence of 25 per cent of members, equivalent to 25 lawmakers.

Members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) claimed the absence of PNC members amounted to a boycott of the sitting.

“We have received information suggesting that PNC members boycotted the session because Nazim was presiding over the chair,” an MDP lawmaker said.

Efforts to obtain comment from Ibrahim Falah were unsuccessful.

The cancelled sitting comes shortly after reports emerged that President Mohamed Muizzu removed Nazim from a WhatsApp group used to issue instructions to PNC lawmakers.

According to reports, the President is the sole administrator of the group.

No official reason has been given for Nazim’s removal.

The parliamentary disruption also follows the imprisonment of two journalists earlier this week in connection with an alleged breach of a Criminal Court order.